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Volume 35 Number 97
Produced: Sun Feb 24 14:08:25 US/Eastern 2002
Purim Edition
[Sam Saal]
The Jewish Laws of Television
Author's Preface: This book must not be used as a guide to
practical Halochoh. I am not a qualified posek. I failed my
CPA exam. I do not even have a driver's license. The sole purpose
of this work is to provide a basic understanding of the halochic
issues relating to owning and using the television, and to
convince my father-in-law that it was worth supporting me in
kollel for the last 23 years. All halochic questions should be
brought to a reader's local, qualified machmir. I want to
acknowledge my gratitude to Hashem Yisborach, to my wife Chashie,
to my children Bini, Pini, Minnie, Mashie, Bashie, Rashie, Ushi,
Chushi and Harold. And to the one who instilled in me the love
of television, Captain Kangaroo.
I. Definition of Television
A. The Halochoh defines television as any instrument which
receives an audio and video signal, with a screen to display the
video transmission and a speaker to amplify the sound. According
to Rav Hai Gaon, an electrical supply is part of the definition
of television (a so-called Hai-Definition television).
B. The Urim V'Tumim is believed to have resembled a television,
though it appears to have lacked a remote.
C. The Medrash says that Odom Harishon knew everything, obviously
including how to invent a television.
D. In the days of Moshiach, everyone who wants a television will
own one, there will be no commercials, and all weather forecasts
will be accurate.
II. Owning a Television
A. It is an Issur D'Oraisa to own a television according to most
authorities. Some say it is an Issur D'Rabbonon. All agree that
owning a television involves almost as many Issurim as speaking
Loshon Hora.
B. Owning a television that is broken is permitted, provided the
insides have been removed, replaced with potting soil, and the
television is used as a planter. A Ba'al Nefesh will refrain
from this practice.
C. One who borrows a television for more than thirty days is
considered as one who owns it, even if it is later returned.
Any loan of a television is canceled at the Yovel, along with
magical objects, under the principle of Shemitos Keshafim.
This principle will not apply on New Years' Day to a television
tuned to the Pros Bowl.
III. Getting Benefit (Hano'oh) from Television
A. It is prohibited to derive benefit from television.
Don't even think about it.
IV. The Laws of B'rochos
A. It is required to recite a Shehechiyonu on a new television,
some say at the time of purchase, some say at the time of watching
it for the first time, some say at the first time of watching an
entertaining and popular program that is not interrupted every
five minutes by annoying commercials featuring furry animals,
cute children or a talking carton of milk.
B. When hearing a B'rocho recited on television, one should
respond "Omen," although this does not fulfill an obligation.
When the B'rocho is recited by a Goyische actor with a lousy
Hebrew accent, one should snicker derisively.
V. The Laws of Kashrus
A. One should not eat meat while dairy products are being
advertised on television, lest one come to mix the two.
It is preferable to wait six hours before watching a dairy
advertisement. However, if the advertisement appears in between
two non-dairy advertisements, it is considered Bottel B'Rov,
unless the ad includes Tommy Lasorda or Tommy Lee Jones (in which
case it is Nosen Tom).
B. After eating meat, a pregnant woman with a craving for
ice cream may watch an advertisement for Haagen-Dazs, but only
if the reception is fuzzy.
C. One should not eat dairy while meat products are being
advertised on television, unless one has just brushed one's teeth.
An intervening toothpaste or mouthwash ad is also acceptable.
D. It is forbidden to derive Hano'oh from an advertisement for
Bosor B'Cholov, such as a ch-seburger. When such an advertisement
begins, one should immediately cover one's face, turn off the
television and recite some Tehillim.
VI. The Laws of Tefiloh
A. It is forbidden to postpone prayer in order to watch a
program on television. However, if one is already engaged in
watching a program, in Eretz Yisroel you may delay prayer until
the program is finished, while in Chutz Lo'Oretz you may delay
until the first commercial.
B. It is permitted to Daven B'Yechidus in order to catch one's
favorite sitcom, but only on Thursday nights.
C. When one's television is broken, one should pray for its
speedy repair. It is permissible to engage in Hishtadlus and
call a repairman. In the event the repairman actually shows up,
it is proper to recite the B'rocho of She'Osoh Nissim.
VII. Talking During Television Watching
A. It is forbidden to engage in idle talk during a television
program, because it would be a Hefsaik (interruption). If the
speech is related to the watching (e.g., "Please pass the remote,"
or "Doesn't Kathie Lee Gifford make you nauseous?"), no Hefsaik
occurs. Nevertheless, it is preferable to refrain from any
speech, especially if the person sitting next to you threatens
to "punch your lights out" if you say another word.
B. During commercials, conversation is not considered a Hefsaik.
Nevertheless, one who is able to refrain from talking during
commercials should do so. The story is told about the mother of
a famous Gadol who was asked why she merited to give birth to
a Torah giant. She said, "I never disturbed my husband during
commercials, and I never paid retail."
VIII. The Laws of Shabbos
A. Before Shabbos one should unplug the television and cover it
with a velvet Challoh cover, Li'Kovod Shabbos. There is a dispute
whether it is required that the Challoh cover be encased in
plastic.
B. If a young child accidentally turns on a television during
Shabbos (Rachmonoh Lotzlon), it is vital to respond without causing
additional Chilul Shabbos. The following things should be done
(in order of preferability):
1. If there is an Eruv, move yourself and your family into a
neighbor's house for the duration of Shabbos.
2. If there is no Eruv, one must avoid looking at the television,
even unintentionally. Men should tip their hat brim over their
eyes. Women should tip their sheitel forward over their eyes.
Children should wrap long strips of cloth over their eyes.
3. If this is not possible, one should seek out a Gentile and
indirectly ask him if there is anything good to watch on Friday
nights.
IX. The Laws of Paisach
A. It is very difficult to clean a television for Paisach
because of all the little holes in the back of the set.
Therefore, many authorities require that one throw out one's
televisions before Paisach and buy new ones for Paisach.
B. According to R. Blumenkrantz, a television should be
cleaned for Paisach as follows. First, remove the back of the
television by unscrewing the screws under the sticker that warns
against removing the back of the television. Then clean each
instrument with an ammonia-based cleaner. Finally, to eliminate
the Chometz absorbed when the television gets hot, the entire
television set should be immersed in boiling hot water (Hagoloh).
R. Blumenkrantz recommends unplugging the television first.